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England [458 & 233] beat South Africa [361 & 119] by 211 runs in the 1st Test at Lord's

Could've been a lot less than 331 to chase had SAF held onto their many chances in this match.

There has only been one score over 300 in the last 22 fourth innings at Lord's.
 
Very good effort by S Africa to mak a game of it.

De Kock should come in at no 6 so he still has a batsman or 2 at the other end to keep him company.

Pitch is taking spin so wont be easy.
 
Contrary to the doom-mongering going on amongst some BBC/Twitter England fans and a couple of the radio commies, I strongly believe that England will win the match, although if SA get a quick start it could be close.
 
Don't rate Heino Kuhn.

Gone cheaply again, good take from Bairstow down the legside.
 
Ihwjppk.gif


Very good catch
 
Amla getting really competeive, he like you won the beard off round 1 but not this time. But Mo is the beard of all beards, Amla will fall :akhtar
 
Man SA batting is so weak, there is Amla and De Kock that's it. Elgar is ok but not consistent enough. ABDV should be ashamed for abandoning his country when they need him most.
 
ABDV is a lazy cowardly fraud. He checked out of the Test Cricket Hotel some time ago.

Dawson got Amla, well done.
 
Pakistan were very gutsy in England last year .
England are a solid test team at home .
Also the current southafrican team will be poor tourists to the subcontinent . When are they touring the UAE .
The current generation of batsmen are so bad vs spin . No wonder ashwin , jadeja and yasir are making merry.
Bairstow should play every game . Rarely lets England down if ever.
 
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Moeen keeps slapping the haters, have some mercy on them yaar
 
Claim the extra half hour and this could all be done & dusted in time for supper tonight chaps, what what.
 
Moeen! Stop! The poor, deluded, Rashid fans have had enough now, no need for more punishment!
 
Moeen is the MoM for sure. 87 in first innings & 4+4, so far. He can end up with a 10for.
 
A magnificent win - led by Root and Moeen, supported by Bairstow and Anderson. The perfect performance from England.
 
Big Mac said:
Moeen! Stop! The poor, deluded, Rashid fans have had enough now, no need for more punishment!
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Play them both.

Moeen averaged 44 in the fourth innings when he should have been expected to clean up, but he is making amends today. Hope he gets seven.

Looking good for England. Philander crocked, Rabada banned. Time to go two up with two to play.
 
[MENTION=865]Big Mac[/MENTION] Mo is on the lords honour board as a spinner and he's still learning to bowl spin at the Test level !
 
Robert said:
Play them both.

Moeen averaged 44 in the fourth innings when he should have been expected to clean up, but he is making amends today. Hope he gets seven.

Looking good for England. Philander crocked, Rabada banned. Time to go two up with two to play.
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Very unsporting post, I like to see a competitive Test on a level playing field :mv To even things out maybe England should rest The Beard
 
Robert said:
Play them both.

Moeen averaged 44 in the fourth innings when he should have been expected to clean up, but he is making amends today. Hope he gets seven.

Looking good for England. Philander crocked, Rabada banned. Time to go two up with two to play.
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Robert, please. Rashid is not a test spinner. The sooner you and Mamoon realise this the better.
 
Big Mac said:
Robert, please. Rashid is not a test spinner. The sooner you and Mamoon realise this the better.
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If he wasn't from Yorkshire they wouldn't sing his praises, the guy has so much experience but still; Mo has won more games for England with the ball then Rashid
 
England wins by 221 runs ! excellent A/R from Mo, surely the MOM !
 
I would normally support the inclusion of another Yorkshireman in the England team, but Adil is clearly an inferior bowler to Moeen at present, and has not merited a place in the side on current form. Adil is a good batter and a talented bowler, but always seems to leak a load of boundaries at international level, which is ok when he takes wickets, but when he doesn't it brings the whole team down and makes it impossible for the Cap'n to control an end.
 
Big Mac said:
Robert, please. Rashid is not a test spinner. The sooner you and Mamoon realise this the better.
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Neither was Moeen to begin with. Except against India (snigger). Rashid would have run through SA on this deck. Drop Dawson and play them both.
 
Would Duminy have played more than 10 games if it weren't for quota? It's painful to see Cricket SA in this condition.
 
Robert said:
Neither was Moeen to begin with. Except against India (snigger). Rashid would have run through SA on this deck. Drop Dawson and play them both.
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The difference is that Moeen never bowled as many bad balls as Rashid does, even when he started his international career. Rashid bowls a bunch of pies even on his best day, which means that the odd good balls don't pose that much of a threat to test batsmen who can wait for the inevitable long-hop.

Moeen meanwhile, bowls at a quick pace, spins it hard and is developing some good variation. Rashid is suited to pyjama cricket where batsmen are forced to attack him.
 
Don't see Moeen Ali going below rpo of 4 in Australia.
 
There is nothing better on this planet than test cricket in England, at Lords with glorious sunshine and a bloke with a beard getting MOM. :wg

Great win by England. :root
 
England team is on the up whilst South Africa look on the way down. Moen Alis performance and JPs performance in this game sum up the trajectory of both sides.
 
Big Mac said:
The difference is that Moeen never bowled as many bad balls as Rashid does, even when he started his international career. Rashid bowls a bunch of pies even on his best day, which means that the odd good balls don't pose that much of a threat to test batsmen who can wait for the inevitable long-hop.

Moeen meanwhile, bowls at a quick pace, spins it hard and is developing some good variation. Rashid is suited to pyjama cricket where batsmen are forced to attack him.
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Once again, it doesn't have to be one or the other. Pick both.

All leggies get hit to begin with, even Warne. It takes a long time to learn this most difficult of cricket skills. But Rashid will get wickets when our other bowlers are nullified on the forthcoming Aussie pancakes.
 
Overseas spinners don't get wickets in Australia. Muralitharan averaged 70-odd there I think; Ajmal got mullered in his one Test there, and they were both throwers. Kumble averaged 40-something across 4 Tests when he was captain and it was lauded as one of the best performances of its kind; Swann also had a series there in 2010 where he averaged 40-odd, but it was largely based around one big haul at Adelaide, and he got tanked in the other games.

So I don't think little old Adil is worth blooding for those conditions. Frankly I cringe at the prospect of him serving up his fully-tossed legside custard pies to the likes of David Warner and Steve Smith in their home conditions.

Moeen Ali might just be a sleeper hit in Australia. Not with the ball, he will be thoroughly mediocre there, but his 'lucky dip' batting style will probably work well on the flat pitches over there.
 
Poor performance

What is even worse

AB sitting back and watching
 
MOEEN ALI TAKES SIX TO CLINCH VICTORY FOR ENGLAND

ENGLAND beat the Standard Bank Proteas by 211 runs inside four days in the first Test match which finished at Lord’s in London on Sunday.

Set to make an unlikely 331 for victory the Proteas crumbled to 119 all out with Moeen Ali taking 6 wickets to give him 10 in the match.

In truth, neither side’s batsmen were able to cope with the conditions on the last day with England losing 9/114 on the day and South Africa 10/119. And England would have got quite a lot less had Jonny Bairstow been caught in the deep off a straight forward chance to Vernon Philander. Bairstow had 7 at the time and went on to make 51.

Philander was clearly trying to protect his injured right hand and the chance went down.

The match was effectively won on the first day when England laid the groundwork for the critical first innings lead thanks to the brilliant century by their debut captain, Joe Root, and in no small part to some poor South African fielding and undisciplined bowling.

It was the first defeat for any South African side in a five-day match at Lord’s since 1960.

The Proteas produced their best session of the entire match, taking 7/63 on the opening session of day four. With Philander back to lead the attack the Proteas were able to keep things tight at both ends and this helped to build the pressure that led to the breakthroughs.

England were nevertheless in a strong position with a lead of 279 runs with two wickets still in hand, one of them being a major batsman in Bairstow.

Morkel made the initial breakthrough when he dismissed both the overnight batsmen (Cook 69 off 192 balls, 10 fours and Balance 34 off 78 balls, 4 fours) in successive overs and he was backed up by Maharaj and Rabada with the next five wickets between them.

Bairstow who had been dropped in the deep by Philander off Maharaj when on 7 went on to complete a half-century (51 off 76 balls, 6 fours) before being the last man out, setting the Proteas a stiff target of 331 for victory. Maharaj finished with 4/85 with Morkel and Rabada taking 3 wickets each.

The magnitude of the task facing the Proteas became evident in the 13 overs before tea when they scored only 25 runs and lost three wickets in the process. Ten of those runs were scored by Amla in one over from Anderson.

Kuhn was caught down the leg-side off Anderson, Elgar gave a return catch to Moeen trying to take the attack to the spinner and then on the stroke of the interval Duminy miscued an attempted pull shot off Wood and was caught by Moeen at square leg.

The innings became a procession after the interval as England unsurprisingly opted for spin from both ends. There was brief resistance from De Kock, promoted up the order to No. 5, and Bavuma who compiled far and away the best partnership of the innings of 36.

Moeen finished with 6 wickets to give him 10 in the match.
 
James said:
Overseas spinners don't get wickets in Australia. Muralitharan averaged 70-odd there I think; Ajmal got mullered in his one Test there, and they were both throwers. Kumble averaged 40-something across 4 Tests when he was captain and it was lauded as one of the best performances of its kind; Swann also had a series there in 2010 where he averaged 40-odd, but it was largely based around one big haul at Adelaide, and he got tanked in the other games.

So I don't think little old Adil is worth blooding for those conditions. Frankly I cringe at the prospect of him serving up his fully-tossed legside custard pies to the likes of David Warner and Steve Smith in their home conditions.

Moeen Ali might just be a sleeper hit in Australia. Not with the ball, he will be thoroughly mediocre there, but his 'lucky dip' batting style will probably work well on the flat pitches over there.
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Finger-spinners don't do well there, but the Aussies have always produced fine wrist-spinners - Grimmett, O'Reilly, Benaud, Jenner, Warne, MacGill. So I think Adil could do well there, if he gets good coaching and cuts down on the four-balls.

Kumble didn't do much anywhere outside India. The Murali thing is surprising - maybe he lost his concentration after being no-balled so much.
 
SAF are truly in decline.

I think in about 5-10 years time - they will become well and true minnows.
 
They are the weakest they have been since readmission. But their system is robust and produces excellent cricketers. The wheel will turn for them.
 
Its really funny how no one in the english media questions this 2 pronged approach to pitches in england while everyone pitches a fit when subcontinent team does the same, i will be really surprised if we find any pitch that isn't lush green when india come to tour while get spinning pitches against SA, i even remember seeing a lords graphic detailing how the color of pitch went from green against india to brown against nz a few years back, but no one complains unless it is the subcontinent teams doing it.
 
Standard Bank Proteas stand-in captain, Dean Elgar, says the squad will need to be a lot more ‘ruthless’ with their basic disciplines- which he feels was the disappointment- in the 211-run loss to England in the first Test match at Lord’s on Sunday. A dejected Elgar lamented the missed opportunities throughout the four days of cricket, which highlighted a below-par performance in the field.

He gave credit to the bowlers, who brought the team back into the match with a lethal performance with the ball on the fourth morning, taking the last nine wicket for 114 runs to set up a difficult but gettable target of 331 for victory.

“ There were small things that impacted the Test in a big way,” he admitted after the match. “ Various dropped catches, our non-negotiable no-balls, issues that we had throughout the Test. That would have made life easier as a captain and life easier as a squad. We need to take it on the chin and crack on, we have to be a lot more ruthless with regards to our disciplines.

“ I thought it was game on,” he said of the feeling at lunch. “ Massive credit has to go to our bowlers for implementing and keeping the game plan for as long as possible. We knew we had to get time out of this game with two days to go, it was going to be a tough feat for us. Going into lunch with them eight down I thought we had given ourselves an opportunity. That is why it is disappointing sitting here after things capitulated.”

Elgar says he has learnt a lot during his short stint as captain, and says it will be important to look ahead given the short turnaround until the start of the second Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Friday.

“ It has been a good week,” he said of the captaincy. “ It was quite enjoyable. It definitely could have been a lot easier, especially the start of the Test. It could have been a lot easier on myself if a few things went our way as a team. So be it, these are the punches you have to take, we have to get up tomorrow with a smile and not forget that in four days’ time we start again.

“ The reality of cricket is that you are always going to lose somewhere,” he said. “ The key thing is to bounce back as quickly as possible. I don’t think there will be any drifting apart, we are still going to be a tight unit. We have to put a lot more emphasis on our next game.”

Russell Domingo has travelled back to South Africa to be with his mother, who’s condition has deteriorated following a car accident and has been placed on life support. Faf du Plessis has re-joined the squad which is scheduled to travel to Nottingham on Tuesday.


Standard Bank Proteas Test squad: Faf du Plessis (Multiply Titans, capt), Hashim Amla (WSB Cape Cobras), Temba Bavuma (WSB Cape Cobras), Theunis de Bruyn (VKB Knights), Quinton de Kock (Multiply Titans), JP Duminy (WSB Cape Cobras), Dean Elgar (Multiply Titans), Heino Kuhn (Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Multiply Titans), Morne Morkel (Multiply Titans), Chris Morris (Multiply Titans), Duanne Olivier (VKB Knights), Andile Phehlukwayo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Vernon Philander (WSB Cape Cobras), Kagiso Rabada (bizhub Highveld Lions).

Tour Itinerary

2nd Test – 14 – 18 July – Trent Bridge, Nottingham
3rd Test – 27 – 31 July – The Oval, London
4th Test – 4-8 August – Old Trafford, Manchester
 
jagatk said:
Its really funny how no one in the english media questions this 2 pronged approach to pitches in england while everyone pitches a fit when subcontinent team does the same, i will be really surprised if we find any pitch that isn't lush green when india come to tour while get spinning pitches against SA, i even remember seeing a lords graphic detailing how the color of pitch went from green against india to brown against nz a few years back, but no one complains unless it is the subcontinent teams doing it.
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What two pronged approach? It was a proper English wicket for three days then cracked and broke up under strong sun.

Gavaskar, Vengsarkar, Azhar, Tendulkar could all bat on seamers. It's the current Indians who cannot.
 
It was a square turner prepared to exploit South Africa's weakness against spin, hence England going in with 2 spinners from the get-go which rarely happens in home Tests.
 
James said:
It was a square turner prepared to exploit South Africa's weakness against spin, hence England going in with 2 spinners from the get-go which rarely happens in home Tests.
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I think they were going with both Dawson and Moeen independent of the pitch to be honest. The squad was picked with the 2 spinners before the wicket would even have been cut and I'd guess Roland-Jones was just there as injury cover. Probably the same for the 2nd test.
 
James said:
It was a square turner prepared to exploit South Africa's weakness against spin, hence England going in with 2 spinners from the get-go which rarely happens in home Tests.
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Eh? It was a batting paradise on day one. It broke up due to the heat. If we still had Swann and Monty instead of our weak spinners... no, I wouldn't agree even then. What method exists for Team England to instruct the MCC groundsman what to do?

Down the decades I have seen too many pitches which suit the oppo better than England. Greentops for Hadlee, dust bowls for Murali.....
 
The_Odd_One said:
SA's batting and bowling both look extremely weak at the moment.
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We should organise a series against them post haste. Next year will be a big chance for us to end our barren run in South Africa provided we get the post-YK/Misbah transition right.
 
Congrats Eng well played comprehensive win. Amla really needs to stand up. Gone missing since Kallis/Smith/AB have left the scene.
 
Markhor said:
We should organise a series against them post haste. Next year will be a big chance for us to end our barren run in South Africa provided we get the post-YK/Misbah transition right.
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Philander will be the only real threat. If SA plays the same team, both Pakistan and India can beat SA in SA.
 
The hosting ground and the ECB reps will always be talking in the background.

Grounds are under pressure to produce quality Test wickets that will result in a competitive game for 4 or 5 days, because the grounds want to be invited back as potential bidders for future internationals. Tickets are always on advance sale for the first 4 days and nobody wants to be giving out any refunds.

And, if these numerous conversations include subtle undocumented hints as to the kind of pitch that the ECB wants to see from the groundsman, to give the next planned England XI the best chance of doing well, then so be it.

Moeen just became the first offspinner to take a 10-wicket haul at Lords since 1951. He is a wily bowler and a top lad, but one cannot honestly credit some good dry heat (it was hardly baking hot) as the sole reason for some decidedly strange pitch behaviour (from Day 2 onwards) and Moeen's subsequent cash-in.

Boycott went on record after England won back the Ashes in 2009 and asserted that the Oval had been a 'special... mail-ordered pitch so that England could beat Australia'. Here is a man with vast experience in the deepest underbellies of the game, an ex England captain who has dealt with the internal politics all his life, and who knows everyone there is to know in English cricket. He is no frivolous sensationaliser and he knows what he is on about. He certainly knew something then! I am more than comfortable to trust his views on such matters.

England fans seem to be as prone to India fans at putting their heads in the sand about the realities of "pitch politics". There is no need to deny it. Essentially it is just one facet of Home Advantage, and rightly or wrongly it is the way it is.
 
All those underrating Pakistan's victory at Lords last year, including Misbah's century should see how tough it was SA'cans to play this match, it turned out to be a one sided affair...
 
The_Odd_One said:
Philander will be the only real threat. If SA plays the same team, both Pakistan and India can beat SA in SA.
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Pak definitely can but India definitely can't since they can win only when the curators prepares pitch on the special instructions of their captain and the coach. Indian captains traditionally have the habit of giving a go ahead on what soil the curator should take, how much water should go in and if the curator doesn't listens to them fully then you already know what they do to them. An example is Dhoni rebuking and forcing BCCI to take the job of an 80 year old curator who tried to make a decent pitch which can produce enjoyable cricket, this was there in all the newspapers. There are many such examples. ICC reprimanded them for preparing unhealthy pitches a couple of times last year as well.
 
James said:
The hosting ground and the ECB reps will always be talking in the background.

Grounds are under pressure to produce quality Test wickets that will result in a competitive game for 4 or 5 days, because the grounds want to be invited back as potential bidders for future internationals. Tickets are always on advance sale for the first 4 days and nobody wants to be giving out any refunds.

And, if these numerous conversations include subtle undocumented hints as to the kind of pitch that the ECB wants to see from the groundsman, to give the next planned England XI the best chance of doing well, then so be it.

Moeen just became the first offspinner to take a 10-wicket haul at Lords since 1951. He is a wily bowler and a top lad, but one cannot honestly credit some good dry heat (it was hardly baking hot) as the sole reason for some decidedly strange pitch behaviour (from Day 2 onwards) and Moeen's subsequent cash-in.

Boycott went on record after England won back the Ashes in 2009 and asserted that the Oval had been a 'special... mail-ordered pitch so that England could beat Australia'. Here is a man with vast experience in the deepest underbellies of the game, an ex England captain who has dealt with the internal politics all his life, and who knows everyone there is to know in English cricket. He is no frivolous sensationaliser and he knows what he is on about. He certainly knew something then! I am more than comfortable to trust his views on such matters.

England fans seem to be as prone to India fans at putting their heads in the sand about the realities of "pitch politics". There is no need to deny it. Essentially it is just one facet of Home Advantage, and rightly or wrongly it is the way it is.
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Hmm. I think if England had batted last they would have been skittled too. Actually, they were skittled. Neither team has settled batting, though England's goes deeper. The SA performance was generally hopeless - undisciplined and lacking in the basics.

I take issue with Uncle Geoff. Swann hadn't emerged as a top spinner by 2009, and neither had Broad. Fifth test pitches are supposed to be dusty, and the England attack wasn't that great.

Short of leaving the grass on or mowing it, I am not sure how it is possible to rig a pitch in the U.K. where the weather is so variable.

You can predict what you will get in most countries, but in the U.K. wickets are different.
 
Hope we get a lords pitch like this when pakistan tours england again at this venue. Last few years its been a surface to favour spin and reverse swing.
 
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